Ash and drip receiver



Feb. 18, 1941. P. KAVANAGH ASH AND DRIP RECEIVER Filed April 14, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 xl b2 ngz NVENTDR.

Feb. 18, 1941. P. KAVANAGH ASH AND DRIIP RECEIVER Filed April 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Parental Feb". 1s, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 14, 1938, Serial No. 202,112

In Great Britain April 15, 1937 y 4 Claims.

The aim of this invention is to provide eillcient and convenient means combined with a table, or like surface, for the reception or collection of tobacco ash and/or liquid drippings, being particularly suitable for use in dining and refreshmen-t rooms of ships, railway .tr-ains, hotels, and such-like places; and has for its primary object to eliminate unauthorised removal of ash-receiving receptacles placed for public use on tables, or like surfaces. A further object of my invention resides in the protection of the table, or like surface, from disfigurement by contact with lighted cigarette ends or by rough usage, thus maintaining the table in good condition and appearance.

According to my invention, I provide a table, or like surface, having an aperture -or apertures formed therein, a supported tobco ash and/or drip receiving bowl or like receptacle, vremovably located within or under the or 'each of said aperture or apertures and so that its open top is situated below said .table or like surface, a gridlike member fitted within the or each surface aperture and covering said bowl, and normally concealed retaining means whereby said grid-like member and said bowl are locked to prevent or render difficult their unauthorised removal.

One form of my invention comprises a tablelike surface ltiltably mounted-upon the release of a normally concealed locking catch-about a pivot or hinge connecting the table-like surface with a support, an aperture formed in said surface, a bowl or receptacle carried by said suppor-t and located within or under said aperture and so that the open end of vthe bowl or receptacle lies below the same, and a grid-like member fitted within said aperture and flush with the table-like surface so as to cover the bowl or receptacle; the grid-like member and bowl being located in such manner as 4to lrender diflicult unauthorised removal thereof.

Another form of my invention comprises a table-like surf-ace, an aperture formed in said surface, a bowl or receptacle located within or under said aperture and so that its upper open end lies below the same, a frame fitted upon said table-like surface and which consists of an inner ring-like or equivalent member provided with a ledge situated within the upper end of said aperture and a series of radially arranged arms extending outwardly from said inner ring-like or equivalent member over the upper face of the table-like surface and merging into an outer flat ring or flange which is downwardly curved or bent so as to follow the contour of the outer corresponding edge or periphery of the .table-like surface, and a grid-like member fitted upon said ledge so as to cover said bowl or receptacle; .the grid-like member and bowl being located in such manner as to render difficult unauthorised removal thereof.

Each of said radially spaced arms may be provided with a groove or channel which extends towards and crosses said inner ring-like member in order to conduct drips .to the bowl or receptacle situated below said ring-like member.

I will further describe my invention with the aid of .the accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings which illustrate, by way of example only, one mode of carrying my invention into effect.

In said drawings- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a table combined with my improvements, and

Fig. 2 is acorresponding plan view but with the grid-like cover of .the ash and drip-receiving or,

collecting receptacle removed.

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views in plan and side elevation, respectively, of lthe grid-like cover.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing an alternative mode of anchoring the base or foot of the table to a concrete or cement iioor.

Fig. 6 is a plan view illustrating the key-Way in the floor bearing of Fig. 1.

In the several views like characters of reference denote like or equivalent parts wherever they occur.

Referring now to the drawings, to the upper surface of a wooden base or top board a of the table there is tted a. metal frame member which includes an inner ring-like member b having a circular ledge bl--see Fig. 2--and an outer peripheral 4hat ring-like member or flange b2 which is downwardly curved a't b3 so as to follow the contour of and shield vthe outer or corresponding edge-which in this example is circular-of base board a. Extending outwardly from the inner ring b,` across the upper surface of the base board a, are a seriesof radially arranged and equidistantly spaced arms b4 which merge into said'outer fiat ring b2. In the example illustrated the radial arms are set at apart.

Resting upon ledge b1 of inner ring member b is a correspondingly shaped grid-like cover c of metal, porcelain, or other suitable material having apertures c1 of any suitable design which may be arranged to spell a desired advertisement, and

-a peripheral shoulder c2 which engages with ledge b1 so as to permit the cover c to lie flush within the ring b. A series of recesses c3 are formed in the periphery of cover c to receive correspondingly shaped locating projections b5 which extend inwardly from ring b. The grid-like cover c is retained in position-so as .to render difficult its unauthorised removal-by means of a pin d projecting from one side of cover c and engaging in a corresponding socket e in ring b, and .a springloaded ball or plunger f located diametrically opposite to socket e in ring b and engaging in a corresponding recess g in .the adjacent side of cover c. It will be appreci-ated that the locking arrangement for cover c is normally concealed from view.

The inner ring member b seats within the upper end of a central aperture a1 provided in the base board a, whilst lthe outer ring-like member b2 and arms b4 of the metal frame are c-ast witha series of bosses h which project from the'underside of the metal frame and are located in corresponding dowel apertures a2 provided in upper face of base board a. The metal frame is securely fas- Itened to the top surface of base board a by means of screws i entered upwardly through base board a and engaging within corresponding screwtapped passages in said boss projections h.

A circular collar k1 extending upwardly from a casting Ic located at the top of the table leg support or column l, is located within the central aperture a1 of base board a, whilst disposed below the adjacent inner ring b is an outwardly extending top flange m1 of a bowl or receptacle m which is situated under the upper surface of the table, being suspended below the grid-like coverc by means of its flange m1 resting upon the upper end of the collar k1 of casting k.

Secured to the underside of the base board a is a square wooden block n which has a central aperture for the passage of the collar k1, and which block n, is hinged at o to an outwardly projecting flange k2 of casting k, whilst the other side of the block n is provided with a normally concealed spring-returned locking catch'or bolt p which, when pulled outwardly to released position, permits the table top structure, which comprises the metal frame b, b2, b4, grid-like cover c and under block n, to be tilted about its hinged connection o in order to permit removal of the bowl m for cleaning purposes. It will thus be seen that unauthorized removal of the bowl is frustrated.

Extending downwardly from flange It2 of casting k are arms k3 which curve inwardly to terminate in a bosslc4 having an internally screwtapped passage which engages with a screwthreaded rod end l1 of the supporting column l, whereby casting k is secured thereto. Also screwed on said rod l1 is a circular angemember l2 which abuts against a shoulder 13 of column l, whilst resting on said circular ange l2 is a circular under-table q for the reception of parcels, hats, or the like. n

In assembling the table, the circular flange lz is screwed down the rod end l1 until it abuts against the shoulder I3, then the under-table q is placed over the rod end l1 to seat upon the flange I3, and finally the upper casting k is screwed onto the upper end of rod l1; in this manner the under-table q and casting k are securely positioned on column l.

The supporting column l is hollow, and disposed within a recessed part l4 of an intermediate ornamental portion l5 is a press-button r of an electric bell whereto are connected current conductors r1 which extend downwardly within the hollow interior of column l and pass through a central aperture Zs in a bottom spindle end l'I of engage with an outward flange s1 of bearing s and a securing plate v. The upper end of the bearing s is provided with a bevelled recess s2 which receives and retains a corresponding apertured edge of a fioor covering t1. The floor bearing s is provided with a key-way s3 for the passage of key projections l provided at the lower end of spindle l", whilst the bearing s is also formed with opposed cam faces s* so that when the table column l is rotated in one direction or the other said cam faces co-act with the key projections I9 to secure the table to the iioor.

Non-removably fitted near the lower end of the supporting column l are a pair of oppositely disposed metal bowls w which may be used as foot rests, ash trays. or refuse holders.

Preferably. each space existing between the adjacent arms b4 of the metal frame b, b2, b* is filled in by a correspondingly shaped piece or section of glass, rubber, or any other suitable surface of hard wearing' or non-inammable material designated a: which has its perimeter bevelled at .1:1 and held in position by corresponding bevelled edges b6 of the surrounding members of the metal frame b, b2, b4, in such manner as to be flush with the upper surface of the latter.

Each arm b4 of the metal frame b, b2, b4' is provided With a groove or channel b'1 which extends towards and crosses the inner ring member b in order to conduct drips to the central bowl mwhich may also constitute a container for cigarette ashwhilst the outer edges of said arms b4 where they merge into the flat ring b2 may be provided with recesses laa which constitute cigarette rests. The bowl m may be partially filled with water to extinguish lighted cigarette ends which may be entered through the apertures c1 of cover c.

The cover c is provided with grooves or channels c4 which register with the grooves b" of the radial arms b4 in order to facilitate the passage of the drips through the openings c1 in cover c The underside of base board a may be provided with an ornamental beading y held in position by Wood-screws.

The table top a and so the metal arms b4 may have a slight slope towards the central bowl m in order to enhance the passage of drips thereto, but the table top may, of course, be perfectly flat.

In an alternative mode of anchoring the base or foot of the table to a concrete or cement fioor as illustrated in Fig. 5, a floor bearing s having a keyway s3 is embedded in the concrete, whilst the key projections 1 at the lower end of the spindle I" coact with the cam faces s4 of bearing s in such manner that when the table is rotatedin one direction or the other, the key projections 19 bind against the cam surfaces s4, as previously described with reference to Fig. 1.

Apertures z are provided in the ioor bearings s of Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 for .the reception of a connecting plug, or the like, from the source of electricity supply to connect with the contacts la.

'I'he present invention is capable of considerable modification and such changes theretol as come within the scope of the appended claims are deemed to be a part cf my invention.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An improvement in tables comprising a support, a table top tiltably mounted upon said support, an aperture formed in said top, a receptacle carried by said support and located within said aperture with the open end of the receptacle lying below the top thereof, a grid-like member, concealed means detachably connecting said grid-like member within said aperture for covering said receptacle and normally concealed retaining means locking said top upon said support.

2. An improvement in tables comprising a supporting surface, an aperture formed in said surface, a receptacle located within said aperture with the upper open end thereof lying below the surface of said top, a frame fitted upon said top consisting of an inner rim-like member provided with a ledge situated within the upper end of said aperture and a series of radially arranged arms extending outwardly from said inner rim-like member ov'e the upper face of said top and merging into an outer at ange which follows the contour of the edge of said top and a grid-like member tted upon said ledge and covering said receptacle.

3. An improvement in tables as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said radially arranged arms is provided with a groove extending towards and crossing said inner rim-like member.

4. An improvement in tables as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said radially arranged arms is providedwith a groove extending towards and across said inner rim-like member and said grid cover seated within said rim-like member is formed with grooves registering with the grooves formed in said radially arranged arms.V

PETER KAVANAGH. 

